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       #Post#: 3071--------------------------------------------------
       2016 FanFest DVD set reviews
       By: wstagner Date: January 30, 2017, 10:56 am
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       2016 Ventures Fan Fest DVD Set Review
       Apologies to Tom for the delay in getting this review online.
       However, sometimes life sets your priorities.
       I had the pleasure of viewing all three DVDs in the main FanFest
       set, and I have to say that (except for a few minor disc menu
       glitches - which may have been caused by my old home DVD player)
       I was very impressed by the overall improved quality.  This was
       evident in the editing, the visual clarity, and the sound
       quality.  When I turned up the volume on the TV, it was like I
       was right there listening to the great music.
       The disc menu glitch that I mentioned was mainly that (on my
       almost 10-year old DVD player) the colored highlights that
       should have overlapped the chapters appeared offset, either
       slightly below or above, from the stationary text.  However,
       that didn't really hinder the playability of the discs, just a
       minor distraction.
       Disc 1:
       The Pickniks started off the presentation with a high-powered
       mix of some of the classic Ventures tunes that we love so much.
       Bob Spalding joined in at one point on "Bumble Bee" and "Walk
       Don't Run," which also featured young Ventures fan Danny Roberts
       on drums.  He was given a very much deserved round of applause
       and a memento of his participation.
       Next, some of the celebrities in the audience were acknowledged.
       They included Mike Bogle and his wife, Bob Spalding and his
       wife, Fiona Taylor, new Ventures member Luke Griffin, and Dave
       Towers and his wife - traveling all the way from the UK.  The
       fan who had traveled all the way from Japan for last year's
       FanFest was also acknowledged as being in attendance again this
       year.
       Ken Arnold's band was next up with another group of instrumental
       classics.  (Sorry, I didn't record the name of all of the
       individual songs.)  Bob Spalding again joined in on "Diamond
       Head."  Vic Hines' band was up next, and they were followed by
       Rich (didn't catch his last name) and Walt Stagner.  Overall,
       all of the music was well-played and the sound came over quite
       well on the DVD video.
       Disc 2:
       This grouping started off with John Stapleson and his group,
       followed by a set from Bob Spalding, Luke Griffin, and Les
       Fradken.  That included Bob discussing and then playing Johnny
       Smith's original jazz version of "Walk Don't Run" and a unique
       reggae version of "Pipeline."  Our host Tom Baltaeff then took
       the microphone for some welcome remarks and announcements.  This
       set ended with an informative Q&A session with Bob Spalding,
       Fiona Taylor, Luke Griffin, and Mike Bogle in the "hot seats."
       Disc 3:
       The final disc in the set maintains the high picture and sound
       quality of the others.  The musicians in this last grouping
       included Bob Dowd, Piece of the Action, Ghose Kanad, Les
       Fradken, and a second set by The Picniks.  The disc ends with
       comments from Fan Fest attendees, both musicians and audience
       members.
       Not taking away anything from Tom's herculean efforts in putting
       on and documenting the annual Fan Fests, I think I enjoyed
       watching this set of discs more than any of the others.  A big
       part of the reason is the greatly improved video and sound
       quality of the recordings.  Kudos to Tom, the musicians, and
       anyone else who had a hand in putting on the 2016 Ventures Fan
       Fest.
       Arnold van Beverhoudt, Jr.
       www.sandcastlevi.com
       #Post#: 3072--------------------------------------------------
       2016 FanFest DVD set reviews
       By: tabalt11 Date: January 30, 2017, 11:58 am
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       Thanx Walt for taking the time out of your busy schedule
       to post ARNOLD's review of last year's fest.
       GREAT READING!
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